Paul A. Eisenstein: 2011 Chevrolet Volt lives up to the hype

Paul A. Eisenstein

Monday

Jan 25, 2010 at 12:01 AMJan 25, 2010 at 6:39 AM

Few automobiles have received as much hype as the Chevrolet Volt, which has made headlines since the day it rolled onto the stage at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. But will the production version live up to expectations?

Few automobiles have received as much hype as the Chevrolet Volt, which has made headlines since the day it rolled onto the stage at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. But will the production version live up to expectations?

Chevy’s so-called extended-range electric vehicle won’t make it to dealer showrooms until late this year, but we got a chance to drive a production prototype on a cold Detroit morning. This early model still had a few bugs: a sticky driver’s window and interior detailing that wasn’t yet up to production standards. But if our drive was any indication of what’s to come, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt could charge up the market for battery vehicles.

Volt is, at its heart, a hybrid-electric vehicle. But it has some distinct differences from other hybrids, like Toyota’s popular Prius. The Japanese model has a very small nickel-metal hydride battery pack that is primarily used to recapture energy lost during braking and coasting, and then reuse it during acceleration. Prius – and other conventional hybrids -- can only drive for short distances and low speeds on battery power alone.

Not so Volt, which is designed to drive solely on the power of its large lithium-ion battery pack for up to 40 miles and at speeds up to 90 mph. But unlike pure electric vehicles – such as the upcoming Nissan Leaf – Volt can keep going when the batteries run down. Its compact four-cylinder engine automatically fires up. In an unusual design move, that gas-powered engine acts like a generator, sending power to the electric motors that drive Volt’s wheels.

Hit the start button and the initial experience is similar to a more conventional hybrid: All sorts of dials and gauges light up, and a little warning note says you’re ready to go, once you slip the large shift lever into “gear.” (In fact, Volt has a single-speed transmission.)

As we pulled away, the only noise was the sound of tires crunching on snow. Battery power is incredibly quiet, but even when the gasoline engine eventually fired up, Chevy’s E-REV was pleasantly quiet.

In normal mode, Volt delivered reasonable acceleration, launching from 0 to 60 in about 10 seconds. But switch to sport mode, and you get an unexpected jolt. Electric motors deliver maximum wheel-spinning torque the moment they start to turn, and that translates into a very sporty launch feel and 0 to 60 times of about two seconds quicker.

We didn’t get much of an opportunity to push Volt to test handling, though there’s a nice feel to the steering, and you feel connected to the road.

Making allowances for the prototype interior parts, the cabin is well-outfitted, with a high-tech feel that’s sort of iPod-on-wheels. Most switches and knobs, for example, have been replaced with touch-sensitive controls, though there are small bumps to give some tactile feedback. The one drawback to the interior is the limited headroom in the rear, though there’s plenty of backseat legroom.

You’ll be able to charge Volt from any AC outlet, though GM will encourage owners to install a 220-volt quick charger that will “refill” the batteries in a few hours.

The real question is whether motorists will accept the price tag. While Chevy isn’t saying, it’s expected to come in around $40,000 – before a $7,500 federal tax credit. Of course, rising gas prices could enhance the appeal. At $4 a gallon, you’ll spend barely a 10th as much per mile on electricity. And considering about 70 percent of American motorists drive less than 40 miles a day, a big selling point could be Volt’s ability to go months without a visit to the gas pump.

Paul A. Eisenstein is an award-winning journalist who has spent more than 30 years covering the global auto industry. His work appears in a wide range of publications worldwide, and he is a frequent broadcast commentator on subjects automotive.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Energy usage: 40 miles per charge; up to 400 miles using gas and electric.

Engine options: Electric motor with backup I-4 gasoline generator.

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $40,000 (est).

Cost after federal tax credit: $32,500 (est.).

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